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Ninety-six percent of failing schools are spending above $8,400, the average annual per student expenditure, and 26 percent spend considerably more than that. — Gov. Nathan Deal in an interview on Feb. 12,

“Ninety-six percent of failing schools are spending above $8,400, the average annual per student expenditure, and 26 percent spend considerably more than that.” Gov. Nathan Deal in an interview on Feb. 12, 2015

Gov. Nathan Deal’s signature education legislation this year calls for a constitutional amendment to create a special school district solely for perennially failing schools.

Deal’s office says 141 schools — more than 60 in metro Atlanta — could land in the proposed district and under state control, having each scored 60 or below for three straight years on Georgia’s annual re- port card, the College and Career Performance Index, or CCRPI.

The state would have unprecedented powers in the “opportunity school district.” It could run schools, close them, partner with local school districts to operate them or turn them into charter schools.

The superintendent would report directly to the governor.

Deal acknowledges that it’s a dramatic step and in an interview on Feb. 12 dashed off some statistics to counter those who would say more money is the answer.

“I would say to them that 96 percent of those (failing schools) pay more than the average of the state of $8,400 per child per year, and about 26 percent of them spend considerably more than the state average,” the gover- nor said. “If they say that money alone will fix this, then the statistics and the information that we have does not bear that out.”

We decided to check the governor’s math.

Deal’s proposal would require approval from twothirds of the General Assembly and would be put before voters in 2016.

Critics are against creation of a special school dis-

PolitiFact